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It’s only 36 hours since the London Mayoral race came to an end, but already thoughts are turning to who might be Labour’s candidate next time. As Ken Livingstone leaves elected politics, for the first time in a generation theres a completely open field in the capital.

So far several candidates are being mentioned about as potential runners for the Labour selection. They are:

David Lammy – considered running in 2012 but decided instead to back Livingstone. His stock rose significantly after his reaction to riots in Tottenham, and his subsequent critically acclaimed book “Out of the Ashes” – leading to LabourList readers voted him MP of the Month back in August.

Jon Cruddas – He was tipped as a leadership candidate in 2010, but chose not to stand. Subsequently he was spoken about as a potential mayoral candidate, but swung his support behind Ken. Cruddas has been quiet in the last couple of years, but in the past he’s talked approvingly about the role of London Mayor, telling a close friend that “London Mayor is best job in British politics.” He’s an outer London MP, and he has experience of fighting the BNP in London – if he turns out to be a candidate, he’ll be a strong one.

Oona King – The only person who chose to stand against Livingstone in 2010, she was crushed in the selection campaign. But she built a campaign team around her and is popular with sections of the London Party. Her mischievous tweet yesterday suggests she’s at the very least trying to keep people guessing. Which she has…

Sadiq Khan – the most senior of the candidates in the running, the shadow justice secretary is thought to be seriously considering a run for mayor. By 2016 he’ll have been an MP for over 10 years (with 12 years as a local councillor), and has a Mayoral-candidate friendly back story – his father was a bus driver. Could “Yes We Ken” morph into “Yes We Khan”?

Stella Creasy – well liked, determined and ambitious, many have questioned why Creasy isn’t already in the Shadow Cabinet alongside talented peers like Umunna and Reeves. But a run for London Mayor could be on the cards for the Walthamstow MP – and it’s a win-win proposition for her. If she wins, she’d be one of the biggest names in the party. If she doesn’t, the profile would propel her to greater heights within the party. She’s the dark horse in this race, but certainly one to watch.

Steve Reed – certainly an option if Labour looks beyond MPs and ex-MPs. Reed won back Lambeth from a Tory-Lib Dem coalition in 2006 (Labour’s only council gain that year) showing he can win elections against the odds. Since then, he has turned Lambeth from a basket-case to establishing it as a flagship co-op council (the first in the country) – an alternative to government cuts adopted by over 20 other Labour councils nationally. He has connections with both inner London, where he lives and represents, and outer London, where he was brought up – and has ruffled Eric Pickles feathers recently with borough wide posters opposing his government’s cuts to vital services.

Update: Quite a few people on Twitter asking if Eddie Izzard is a potential candidate. He may well be – but we understand he’d be looking at 2020 or later.

We’ll be updating this list if anyone else appears to be taking a serious look at running in 2016. This isn’t an exhaustive list – and no candidate have confirmed that they are running, yet.

derek

No we Khant? I was gobsmacked when Sadiq wrote of Ken when a single vote hadn’t even been counted?

Kaj

Where did Sadiq write him off? If anything, he seemed one of the few Labour MPs who were outwardly gracious and kinder towards Ken.

I love the idea of Sadiq Khan as mayor but surely if the next General Election is in 2015 and if he becomes Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, why would he want to leave?

Personally why I thought Ken was a brilliant Mayor is that he is a visionary and looked at the long term, which is what is needed in politics, both locally and nationally. We need someone with that quality and calibre. I hate the idea for the mayoralty to be used as a retirement play-thing for retiring MPs, which is why I deplore the idea of Alan Johnson, who does not comes across as a visionary, although he obviously is very affable.

Furthermore, I think there are 2 types of politicians: ‘those who want to be someone and those who want to do something’. Therefore I hate the idea for the mayoralty to be used just as a career steeping stone which is why I deplore the idea of Liam Byrne (would-be Mayor for Birmingham) who would probably have played politics with people’s lives to gain media coverage or for future promotions. By the way, reading Byrne’s article’s in newspapers in the past especially post-2010 elections, he just comes across as someone who follows the curve rather than being ahead of them.

However I do feel Stella Creasy is a visionary and would be an interesting prospect.

AlanGiles

Why don’t we give the non London Labour Listers a day off from our problems?. It’s Sunday, a bank holiday weekend, and the Snooker final begins in a couple of hours. Admittedly it is not a vintage one (Ronnie is bound to win), but it will be more interesting than talking about Oona King throwing her hat into the ring for a second time.

treborc1

It was an odd final last night neither of them seemed to want to take on the shots, then when they did they missed by a mile. The last game of the evening was so poor .

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

“talking about Oona King”

No reflection on Oona but it seems that some of her supporters, along with others in the Backward Looking 1997 Tendency, have managed to institutionalise fossilisation.

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

“talking about Oona King”

No reflection on Oona but it seems that some of her supporters, along with others in the Backward Looking 1997 Tendency, have managed to institutionalise fossilisation.

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

Eddie Izzard has expressed an intention to run in 2020 – perhaps he could be persuaded to throw his hat into the ring earlier:

Duplicated from a related post:

Eddie Izzard has already expressed an interest*, has shown himself to be a capable operator and has gained much political credibility from his work** with the anti-extremist organisation Hope not Hate.

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ente…

** http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/…

treborc1

Funny really how people think the mayor has to be political and a politician, not enough places these days in the house of Lords.

Oh yes, Jules and Robin especially. Jules Pipe, who led a Labour-Tory coalition in Hackney in the early 2000s. Just what we need to stand up to the government. Robin Wales, who dominates his Labour group (ie. the entire council) with the most elaborate game of patronage ever known to mankind with 29 Labour councillors receiving special responsibility allowances. Within the cabinet alone there are five different pay packets for special responsibility – as opposed to one in most authorities. And people accuse Ken of cronyism and control-freakery…

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=637229202 Lou Rossati

Steve Reed was mentioned above and I think he should be a serious contender. I work in Lambeth, and know what a heavyweight politician he is. He’s a nice bloke too – very important to win over the Party and the public.

LabourtillIdie

Hmm Funny how Steve Reed appeared after I pointed out we should look to our raft of Local Labour Leaders

ThePurpleBooker

I personally think Steve Reed would be better off in Parliament. Dulwich and West Norwood?

http://www.facebook.com/elliot.bidgood Elliot Bidgood

My two pence…

Oona King: though she was good an an MP, I like her as a person and I think she might have been a better pick than Ken, she is by no means perfect and the concerns that dogged her selection in 2010 to the tune of a 68-32 loss are still relevant. She didn’t seem to have a clear agenda or give off the gravitas required for the post (and to go up against Boris and win)

David Lammy: would be a great choice and might be mayor right now if he’d run. Young, ministerial experience, inspiring personal story, perfect response to the riots, turned
down shadcab in 2010 in order to look after his constituency. In fact, the only bad thing I ever hear said about him is his poor score that time he went on Mastermind, but unless the Evening Standard are really desperate to trivialise the race in 2016, I can’t see that being an issue!

Sadiq Khan: ministerial and shadow experience, good political instincts (prison votes, for
example) and fought off the Tories in 2010. The kind of heavyweight we need.

Stella Creasy: less aware of her, but she seems articulate and bright from what I’ve seen, and
she’d got a decent background (local government experience, Scouts etc)

Eddie Izzard: as much as I admire him and would love to see him go for public office someday,
I wouldn’t want him to run for mayor of London, tbh, at least not for starters. I fear being seen to further trivialise the position, which is damaging the post already and may have been part of the rationale for the other major cities that rejected directly-elected mayors in referenda last Thursday. Izzard is a great comedian and a passionate and effective progressive advocate, but
that does not neccesarily an executive of a city of eight million make, I’m afraid- we’re not California

Andew Adonis and Alan Johnson have also been speculated in past as well. Alan Sugar too: he could have been a UK Bloomberg and brought executive business experience to the post, but his attack on Ken (and perhaps his status as a celebrity too) probably put that out of the question. One thing I’d say is that if it’s an MP, they should step down in 2015.

Dave Postles

I wouldn’t wish a Mayor Bloomberg of NY on anyone, even my worst enemy.

Dan Filson

Sugar is not remotely in the same league as Bloomberg and would be regarded as a laughing stock. He was a foolish appointment as a peer and even more foolish appointment as a torchbearer for whatever it was. Andrew Adonis is clearly one of the brainiest former ministers around, but has a certain Dr.Spock quality. Would Londoners ever warm to him, or him to them? He might be worth considering as (one of?) the next Mayor’s Deputy Mayor(s) though.

Dr Mike O’Smoke

I’ve already heard speculation about Emily Thornberry – she’d be great: has charisma, a great tactician but also not afraid to think outside the Blairite box unlike any of this lot, as seen in her anti-nuclear stance. I’d actually be even more happy if Jeremy Corbyn put himself forward. With Ken winning twice, we know that the London electorate does not reject a radical agenda out of hand, and he is hugely popular both amongst his own constituents (including people who would probably consider themselves fairly apolitical) and the Labour movement.

http://www.facebook.com/elliot.bidgood Elliot Bidgood

She’s my MP, met her a couple of times, I agree she is absolutely fantastic- really popular here. I’m glad people are saying she’s in the mix.

Kaj

I love Emily but I also want her to be the next Labour party leader.

ThePurpleBooker

Next Labour leader? Emily Thornberry? LOL!

treborc1

Totally agree lets all vote back Blair.

AlanGiles

For somebody who replied “here, here! (sic) this morning to a poster who suggested that Labour should withdraw all support and benefits from the unemployed (and if you deny it I have kept the quote, so save your time) I would say you have no right to sneer at Ms. Thornberry or the poster who suggested her.

You really are in the wrong party by endorsing that sort of policy

ThePurpleBooker

Unemployed spongers must be made to do something for their handouts, which ought to be time-limited like they are in America. There’s plenty of good paying work around and if you’re on the dole for a year or more you must want to be. Like Iain Duncan Smith, Liam Byrne knows this is right.

AlanGiles

Unmployment is now reaching crisis point in areas of the North of England, Scotland and Wales. Older people find it increasingly difficult to get interviews, let alone jobs, and you want to punish them more?

Either you are a joker or time waster or else you are actually a Tory troll (not unknown on LL)

You would be much better off in the Conservative party, if you are not already, and so would all the rest of us be.

AlanGiles

Unmployment is now reaching crisis point in areas of the North of England, Scotland and Wales. Older people find it increasingly difficult to get interviews, let alone jobs, and you want to punish them more?

Either you are a joker or time waster or else you are actually a Tory troll (not unknown on LL)

You would be much better off in the Conservative party, if you are not already, and so would all the rest of us be.

ThePurpleBooker

Go and give your hero George Galloway a suck.

Brumanuensis

I had written a long-response, but it went missing and I’m damned if I’m typing it up all over again. So I’ll just post these:

In the report on the most recent figures, ignore the headline count and look at the break-down, particularly the full time vs part time jobs figures and the number of people unemployed for more than a year. Also note what happened to the claimant count.

There’s a lot of scope for welfare cuts. People don’t need to eat everyday for example. If they eat every other day they would need only half the current money to spend on food. Also single people and couples only really need one room for accommodation and can share a kitchen and bathroom with others. These are only two cost-cutting idea. There’s plenty more similar Blue Labour notions that Liam Byrne and Ed Miliband are considering right now I’m sure.

AlanGiles

I really think you have flipped. By the way, as you once claimed to be a journalist, I am surprised you don’t know it is “hear, hear!” not ‘here, here!

Another fantasist, or joker, I suspect.

treborc1

Beano

derek

How would you like a little bit of black to match in with your purple.

Brumanuensis

Are you actually PurpleBooker or has someone hacked your account, a la ‘GuyM’?

AlanGiles

Or could “The Purple Booker” be “GuyM” this sort of Marie Antionette tripe is just the sort of thing he would come up with.

AlanGiles

Or could “The Purple Booker” be “GuyM” this sort of Marie Antionette tripe is just the sort of thing he would come up with.

Brumanuensis

I think this is a hack, Alan. See my comment at the top of the thread.

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

It’s amusing how difficult it is to tell the hack jobs from the genuine.

PB’s ‘starve the poor’ proposal can be seen as an entirely appropriate accompaniment to Jaqui Smith’s call to ‘feed the rich’*.

Again “Ex lib Dem” comes up when you click on The Purple Bookers avatar

Brumanuensis

Proof?

Dave Postles

Is this some sort of black joke?

ThePurpleBooker

There’s no need to make a racial slur against me or my comments.

treborc1

I think this is without doubt Guy hitting back

Brumanuensis

Too subtle for Guy.

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

“People don’t need to eat everyday”

Two birds killed with one stone, so to speak. You’ve come up with a proposal that’ll cut the cost of welfare and deliver a knock-on, well-targeted advantage for the health service – reduced obesity.

Good work, Purps. Get your parachute ready!

ThePurpleBooker

If you genuinely thought that those quotes were mine then you are indeed thicker than I thought you were. You are the guy who thinks Ed is a leftie! LOL!

AlanGiles

Again “Ex Lib Dem” comes up when you click the avatar

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

Not just a leftie – but a dangerous leftie, as I’m sure the Economist will confirm shortly before the next general election.

jaime taurosangastre candelas

Even the concentration camp inmates were “fed” every day – a thin watery soup and maybe a crust of bread.

From a scientific perspective, your ideas on nutrition fail every sensible test. It is better to have half of the quantity each day than to eat every other day. And we do not want a grand resurgence of Rickets or osteomalacia in this country.

I cannot believe this post is serious.

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

Sound advice, Dr Jaime. And I can’t imagine Purps quibbling with you. I’m surprised he hasn’t suggested issuing ration cards (for use only at Lidl – two piece suits for under £30, large punnet of strawberries £1) instead of money paid directly into the accounts of the work-shy.

They’d live like lords, be whip-thin, well-presented and as healthy as butchers dogs if the opportunity for over- indulgence at the tax-payers expense was removed.

treborc1

Blair and Brown used vouchers for people who are in the UK looking for a home, but it was also put forward as a means of paying the sick and the disabled and it was the Tories who screamed no with some of labour backbenchers.

Poor old Miliband is having a hard time on TV now but I personally still think he’s poor

treborc1

water is not food of course and because you dip a chicken carcass into it does not make it food, and I think concentration camp or detention camps are a dangerous way to go, aslym seekers to day the sick tomorrow

ThePurpleBooker

But it’s already happening and will happen more now benefits are pegged against the CPI. Families on benefits already feed their children poor quality starchy foods like jam sandwiches to fill them up rather than nourish them. I thought you were fully behind cuts and wanted more cuts in the future. This agenda has done well for Cameron and the Tories and Labour could benefit from pursing the same agenda more fiercely. In fact it is! Just look at what Miliband and Byrne are saying and planning to do. We need to get behind them and behind this stricter Blue Labour approach to welfare.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

This isn’t a Blue Labour approach to welfare

treborc1

It’s some pratt pretending to be the booker

ThePurpleBooker

I do not believe that.

Brumanuensis

I think this comment should be flagged for review.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

If you are seriously referring to unemployed people as ‘spongers’, and think that is acceptable – and that is the view of your Purple colleagues – then it just shows that the time to investigate its activities is now.

No Labour party member should be using that sort of language

treborc1

Seems you have taken over from Guy and the local Tory

ThePurpleBooker

If you are sure that I said that and that you have not hacked or made a fake account, then go ahead and keep on writing that.

ThePurpleBooker

Alan you made that quote up!

AlanGiles

“The Purple Booker” seems to have replied to “the Purple Booker” and then says:

“Alan you made that quote up!”

I actually haven’t made anything up, and I frankly don’t know what you are talking about. Please explain.

Jeremy Corbyn – absolutely not. He’s from the same school of divisive politics as Ken.

Agree that Emily Thornberry is great.

Will White

“I disagree with him therefore he is divisive” what a ridiculous argument.

DemianThorne

It’s not as stupid as saying that God must exist because the probability of the universe coming into being spontaneously is incredibly unlikely.

DemianThorne

It’s not as stupid as saying that God must exist because the probability of the universe coming into being spontaneously is incredibly unlikely.

treborc1

That’s it ask God to stand

JamesB

I think Tessa Jowell would be great – she held together a fractious campaign. She’s got relevant executive experience and we’ll need to find a candidate who is the antithesis of the incumbent.

AlanGiles

The trouble is the past comes back to haunt you – and I am sure the Evening Standard wouldn’t be reticent about reminding it’s readers of “colourful” David Mills and how she signed remortgage forms without question when he told her to (several times).

As so many Labour supporters were upset by KL and his arrangements, I think the next candidate really does have to be “purer-than-pure”, otherwise three weeks before the 2016 Atul Whats-his-name of Labour Uncut will be working himself up again. And again….and again….

JamesB

She’s moved way beyond that horrible episode, and I think she has at least another big political job in her. She’s unlikely to get a decent job in the Commons under Ed.

There’s a calm authority about her which I really like, she’s great with people and she’s tough as nails.

AlanGiles

But would we want a Mayor who just blindly signs forms and papers without bothering to read what they say – or somebody who is so out of touch with real life she thinks it perfectly normal to remortgage the house every few months.

She was either very naive or…….

Mike

Tessa Jowell? Too old and clapped out, mate.

treborc1

Allan Sugar

AlanGiles

Somehow I don’t think a contest between him and Johnson effing and blinding would make a very edifying spectacle.

The man who told the New News Of the World readers not to vote for KL, the man who has bought the music hall to “reality TV”, the man who turned boorishness and ill-manners into an art form?.

Could you vote for Sugar? – Frankly I couldn’t

Stuart Madewell

The man who made set-top boxes for sky tv????????????????

AlanGiles

And Murdoch loved them so much he bought the company!

treborc1

I would love the little man to put up, I would move to London just to vote Tory

treborc1

I would love the little man to put up, I would move to London just to vote Tory

Brumanuensis

In order:

David Lammy: Would make a good candidate, but I get the impression he’s something of a light-weight policy-wise. However his performance during the riots was extremely impressive and I dare say he could rise to the occasion if selected.

Jon Cruddas: In theory, Cruddas is an excellent candidate for all the reasons mentioned above. However his pathological avoidance of positions of responsibility makes him unlikely to be selected. Politically, he’s my favourite of the candidates mentioned and if he did stand, he’d get my vote (hypothetically).

Oona King: If we’re going to apply the ‘no-losers’ rule more strictly – as some have suggested – then we should apply it to King. I’ve got nothing against her personally and she seems like a nice lady, but she ran a diabolically-bad campaign in 2010 and more-or-less handed the nomination to Ken, on a plate. No.

Sadiq Khan: I like Sadiq and his political instincts and biography are good, but he’s been a weak Shadow Justice Secretary – his complete inability to properly oppose the Legal Aid Bill stands out – and by some accounts is a poor public speaker. No.

Stella Creasy: Stella is fabulous and my favourite – along with Rachel Reeves – of the 2010 intake. Her work on legal loan sharking has rightly earned her plaundits. But she’s so wonderful and such a fine MP, by all accounts, that I want her to stay in the House of Commons. Please no.

Steve Reed: Reed’s record in Lambeth has indeed been outstanding and he’s the sort of local government heavy-weight who’d be perfect for the London Mayoral role. Next to Cruddas, one of the best candidates. Please yes.

And no, let’s not take Eddie Izzard seriously. He’s a great comedian, a lovely guy and a fine advocate for our Party. But Mayor of London?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=637229202 Lou Rossati

Steve Reed – absolutely! I’ve long thought that he’d make a great Mayor of London. It would be Lambeth’s loss, but London would be so much better off for it.

Alexwilliamz

If the biography on here is accurate he certainly looks like a more credible candidate than some of the ‘bigger’ names.

Guest

Such a good list of potential candidates so far out from 2016 is heartening, though some short observations on Steve Reed who as a non-MP will be below the radar for most.

The Co-Op Council initiative has to be treated with caution as it has not spared local services from cuts despite the rhetoric, and in fact Co-Op proposals are likely to result in a de-facto form of privatisation.

Also for anyone who has spent any time in Lambeth it is clear that winning Lambeth shouldn’t be seen as a big challenge, in fact locals joke that you could put a red rosette on anything and it would be elected.

As for Steve himself, he’s a divisive figure locally who is highly scornful of others who don’t share his view, indeed there have been some online blow-ups where he has revealed to critics both within and out of the party that he has a serious case of glass jaw.

Kaj

I agree with your sentiments about his possible divisiveness…I think it is why Steve Reed was passed over for the Streatham seat, most of the 2nd preferences went to Chuka Umunna (a certain Luke Akehurst was pretty vocal of his dissatisfaction when this happened).

Although Lambeth, in the last decade, wasn’t necessarily the Labour bastion it once was and actually had a Lib Dem-Tory administration.

Guest

It was very instructive that in the Streatham selection other candidates (who were Lambeth Councilors) advocated a second preference for Chuka against their Leader, rumours abounded why but airing them wouldn’t do any justice on this site.

Unfortunately Reed has a tendency to speak first and think second with a few instances of him having to re-word blog posts due to being a bit OTT, and combined with his glass jaw makes him a bit of a worry.

Can’t fault his disdain for the Lib-Dems though.

Guest

It was one person – a councillor who couldn’t get on the shortlist – not a load of councillor.

Lots of anonymous mud slinging here! Show yourself or shut up!!!

John Reed

This couldn’t be more untrue. Labour doesn’t win who ever it puts up.

Lambeth council was the only council to swing back to Labour in 2006 when there was a national swing against Labour of 9%. Under Steve Labour has been re-election to serve a second consecutive term – this is a Lambeth first time for nearly 30 years. If you look it has pinged back and forth at every election.

Secondly, he can hardly be seen as a divisive when he has never been challenged as leader, have a cohesive Labour group and is winning elections. If you are talking about upsetting Eric Pickles, Tories and Liberals – you are correct – they hate him. Mainly for pouring scorn of their disastrous coalition in Lambeth.

http://twitter.com/ScandoGermanic Mark Bristow

How about getting the Independent Siobhan on board? That way we don’t lose any good MPs for the 2015 election and the electorate can vote for them with confidence.

Siobhan also as an outsider did pretty well on her own, so with Labour (and the party’ experience behind her) she stands a good chance.

She also had some good policies that were in London’s interest.

Brumanuensis

Benita has stated that she will not stand in Labour’s candidate selection process in 2016. I can’t quite find the source, but I’m fairly confident of that statement.

http://www.facebook.com/elliot.bidgood Elliot Bidgood

I never really understood the press claim that Benita’s campaign was an “audition” for the Labour nod in 2016, anyway. I know she’s centre-left and she voted for Ken in 2008, but do we even know if she was/is a member of the party? Also, introducing herself by running against Labour’s actual candidate as an independent won’t endear her to the party selectors. If someone is running for mayor as an independent, the straightforward explanation of their behaviour is probably just that they want to get elected mayor as an independent. Why Occam’s Razor is such an incredible concept to Westminister village journos is beyond me.

http://twitter.com/ScandoGermanic Mark Bristow

She may have run against the labour candidate this time round..but that should not automatically mean she should be discounted.

If she is not yet a member of the Labour party then we should encourage her to be…after all if we can’t encourage one individual to become a Labour supporter how can we ask a whole 7 million?

Brumanuensis

Well it’s a pretty strong disincentive to select her. If she’s not interested in joining us, she’s not interested in contesting the selection. Why waste time on someone who obviously isn’t interested, when there are enough well qualified people in the Party who are?

treborc1

Possible she may not join labour but labour may see her as the best candidate, better then getting trounced again, because I really do not see why the Mayor as to be a politician

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

This morning, on Woman’s Hour, Benita has confirmed that she will stand in 2016 and said she wouldn’t, as some thought she might, join the Labour Party.

Given the general fed-upness with politcs and politicians there’s a good chance that she could be a significant contender, particularly if she skilfully trades on her ‘non-political’ politician status.

The tedious familiarity of most of those presented in the list above strongly confirms a capability for in striking boredom into the heart of an already disinterested electorate. This is not to suggest that we should resort to stunts and trivialisation but, instead, go for an imaginative option – someone aware of the need to rethink politics and confront the challenge with something other than worn-out concepts.

And let’s not forget, as the crisis drags on and unemployment rises, the need and desire for a new response will become increasingly urgent.

Dan Filson

Maybe check whether she is in the Labour Party before picking her, and checking what in hell her politics are first and whether she has any clue as to what and are not the Mayor’s powers and duties! She was on about things outside the Mayoral remit during the election and justified this as aspirational. I also don’t someone whose backers include Gus O’Donnell and Martin Bell.

treborc1

We are told Peter Hain may be stepping down soon rather the later.

http://petergkenyon.typepad.com/ Peter G Kenyon

Comrades

Isn’t it time to ditch the Blairite elected mayoral model. Conference never debated and voted for. If asked now, I doubt Conference would support. So let’s prepare the ground now and, as soon as we are back in power in Westminster legislate the return of a collegiate model of local governance with time limits on leaders (ditto for regional, devolved and national government).

AlanGiles

I agree Peter – and at the same time lets ditch this Police Commissioner nonsense which seem to exist only to prop up the egos of time expired politicians and writers who like to think they are “important” (I could name two, but as this is a bank holiday I’ll be generous and won’t!)

treborc1

You obviously will now be castigated for being a a trot.

AlanGiles

I’ve got used to that by now, from some of the more shrill Tony toadies, Robert!

AlanGiles

I’ve got used to that by now, from some of the more shrill Tony toadies, Robert!

Alexwilliamz

Be interesting to see turn out for police commissioner ballots. How big is the criminal vote these days, they could probably get a candidate elected!

ThePurpleBooker

NO!

ThePurpleBooker

No because Mayors have become a great tradition in local governance. Look at Clement Atlee who was Mayor of Poplar, for eg! Mayors have more autonomy and they are hired and fired by the people who represent them. If you look at cities with Mayors across the world, they hav a strong representative whereas in some councils in our country, council leaders are widely ignored whereas the Mayor is a strong, visible figure. That is why I believe that Mayors should be in every major English cities in the country as part of a major local governance reform.

Shivonne

Sadiq Khan for Mayor!!!!

treborc1

Alan Sugar…………………………..My side is hurting

http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

Liam Byrne is at a loose end following Brum’s decision…

ThePurpleBooker

Liam Byrne is a great man.

Alexwilliamz

He certainly grates with me.

treborc1

You would have put a bet Guy would sneak back

JK

Two words: John. Biggs.

That is all. #gobiggsorgohome

SJM

Stella would be absolutely brilliant. Wealth of talent in London. Dissapointed no mention of Val Shawcross who has done a splendid job in London and Croydon.

http://twitter.com/Greenleftie Michael Bater

How about Diane Abbott?

http://www.facebook.com/matthew.blott Matthew Blott

Is that a serious suggestion? If so, it shows you have learned nothing from the rejection of Ken Livingstone.

treborc1

I agree the next candidate must have the Blair stamp of approval.

dam left

AlanGiles

Does it have to be a right-winger then Matthew, and who would you suggest?

Bill Lockhart

Isn’t someone who buys private education a “right-winger” by definition?

Greenstreet

Only if they own a torture garden.

http://twitter.com/johnringer John Ringer

All this speculation is pretty much moot until much closer (or even after) the 2015 election. If it becomes clear we’re heading for disaster, a lot of MPs will be jumping ship before the election in order to start a mayoral run. If we look like we’re going to win, the field will probably narrow significantly.

Anyway, I’m of the strong belief that the early timing of the mayoral candidate selection was one of the main causes of our defeat. If picking our candidate two years out was a tactical error, surely picking one four years out (even just speculatively) is a bit silly?

ThePurpleBooker

Steve Reed would be a brilliant Mayoral candidate and had he been our candidate for the election just lost we may have won but I always thought that he’d become an MP.

Chippolatas

Could Cherie Blair be persuaded to stand? She’d walk it!

Jurgen

I’d rather vote for Lady Macbeth.

treborc1

yes to lands end

Marvin

Frank Field?

AlanGiles

I HOPE you ARE joking?

treborc1

Of course he is

Brumanuensis

I’m sure the prospect of the MP for Birkenhead standing for their mayoralty would go down well with London voters.

AlanGiles

I suppose he could always have Duncan-Smith as his Mayoress………

treborc1

He’d of course move down to London, hold on he already lives in London as most MP’s do

treborc1

And Hutton as his bag carrier

Brumanuensis

For those following ‘ThePurpleBooker’ controversy, I have some potential proof that he is being impersonated:

To wit, when one clicks upon the profile for ‘ThePurpleBooker’ for (e.g.) the comment “Steve Reed would be a brilliant Mayoral candidate and had he been our candidate for the election just lost we may have won but I always thought that he’d become an MP”.

It comes up on his profile as ‘Ex-Lib Dem’.

For the offending comments about people only needing to eat every
other day and a week ago about Tony Benn ‘needing to die’, the profile comes up as ‘ThePurpleBooker’.

The first profile also links to all his Progress comments; the second does not.

This is obviously a serious matter and requires investigation.

ThePurpleBooker

Oh, shut your yap.

derek

Purplefud, Elmers little brother!

ThePurpleBooker

Buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-worn out of wedlock were we, wabbit?

MatthewbeWilson

I defiantly like the look of Sadiq Kahn

Brumanuensis

I think this deserves to be posted, just to remind us all of a truly great politician. Dear old Denis. His age makes it rather charming.

Steve Reed? May hell freeze over first! Reed is just an identikit version of the patronising, divisive and self-serving Ken Livingstone. He even looks like him!

treborc1

Is that you GUY

Guest

No. It’s not me.

Guest

What a load of rubbish. Other than being white and male – they don’t look alike at all. Steve is a brilliant and credible figure!

LabourOfLove

If we’re talking Lambeth, why on earth would they list Steve Reed as opposed to Chuka, who’s so much more intelligent, articulate, measured, mature (ever read Reed’s childish blog-rants about the Lib Dems?) and charismatic!? And, yes, as a bonus, much easier on the eye too! I’m pinning my hopes on Mr Ummuna.

Synergy

Oops, “Umunna”, sorry!

AlanGiles

Utter nonsense. All identical right-wing Blairites who give blowjobs to the statues of Margaret Thatcher. I hate them all. I hate all Blairites, especially that fucking ThePurpleBooker guy and Tony Blair. Blairites, or anyone who is on the right of the party should be hung and shot. The Red Flag should be our National Anthem and we should bring back Stalin from the dead and make him our Mayoral candidate. Let’s increase benefits for people who chose not to work and bring in a tax rate of 100% on those earning over £45,000!

Skinner

Wish Margaret Hodge would run!

AlanGiles

The trouble is (not being ungallant) she is too old – let’s be honest to show how much we like “change”, “progressive modernisation” etc you need to be abt 28

Dave Postles

She’s distinctly needed as chair of the SC on Public Accounts, where she is doing a fantastic job.

Garyjenk46

What about Len Duvall? Experienced in local government. And his parallel career as a property developer with Tilfen Land Ltd means that hge knows the private sector as well.

Sidney

Stella for me! She’s blonde, curvy and bendy!

Joe

She’s a honey. Oh yea.

Brumanuensis

Seriously people, we’re talking about a person here, not a Caravaggio painting. It’s not ok to stand (?) around and comment about her looks.

If Ken Livingstone had been blonde with a full head of hair I bet it would have swung the Mayoral election his way. Being blonde didn’t do Boris Johnson any harm did it? Blonde Mayors probably have more fun too!

Sappho

She’s very fair. A sister-initiate no doubt into the mysteries of ancient Mytilene.

AlanGiles

Isn’t about time we burnt down all those Blairites who are destroying our party because it is not leftwing enough. All these Mayoral candidates are Thatcher-supporting, Blairite scum who should be executed. How about we should get rid of Mayors, since they are a terrible rightwing Thatcherite idea, and then kill all the people who vote for Mayors and then we can have a 150% tax rate on people who earn above £40k and if you don’t pay up then you die!

UKAzeri

if over the next two years we will be successful in getting our core vote out, then it WILL be Lammy. If we fail they will parachute a candidate that the ‘donut’ will support…

Ian Stewart

Heres a thought, how about we not rush into a decision just yet? and why does it have to be an MP?

Ian Stewart

Heres a thought, how about we not rush into a decision just yet? and why does it have to be an MP?

Guest

Do people really think Livingstone won’t skulk in again like a bad smell just before the next mayoral election and threaten to divide the Labour vote unless he’s picked for ‘one last campaign’? By that time he’ll know that Boris Johnson will either have completely blown his reputation by screwing everything up (ideal, from Ken’s point of view) or be looking for something more than the Mayor’s job and so he’ll think that the Labour candidate will have a clear run at it and will want to elbow his way in.

Rob

PETER MANDELSON

AlanGiles

I don’t think so – you can just imagine the Evening Standard going to town on that man’s record!

*Serge Challoff (1924-1957)

Mr Chippy

I suggest Chuka. Although I think he may have higher ambitions and in his case there is nothing wrong in that.

http://twitter.com/ShellyAsquith Shelly Asquith

Interesting. Lots of speculation over whether Val Shawcross will go for it . I’d quite like to see Jennette Arnold up there, too.

David Lammy – a great possibility for Mayor of London and would have certainly beaten Boris Johnson had he been selected instead of Ken, however he seems to be the right person to remain in Westminster politics, so he can serve in a future Labour Cabinet. His politics is interesting since he has been a great driver of the Blue Labour agenda which would be good if it was put in practice for London. Jon Cruddas – a brilliant choice for London. Again, another candidate who would have won this year. It is ashame he was not in the Cabinet or shadow cabinet but seen has it is clear he harbours no massive ambition to become leader or a shadow cabinet member, he should become our candidate so that he can enact some of those great Blue Labour ideas he’s been working on with James Purnell and others.
Oona King – brilliant woman but I feel it is a bit too late for her. She should have been our candidate for the election out of her and Ken, but the party selected Ken. She is already in the House of Lords, so I think what is best is that she remains in the Lords as and joins the shadow cabinet and serve as a minister soon.
Sadiq Khan – it is not such a bad idea, and he might have won but I doubt he has the personality and the edge to be a Mayor. I’m even sceptical of his ability as the Shadow Justice Secretary. Stella Creasy – absolutely not! She is fantastic and she shouldn’t go to City Hall because we need her in the party. Her political activism working with community organising and the Blue Labour debate as well as her M4YL campaign shows that he is brilliant and I hope one day she becomes leader of the party. Steve Reed – again a great choice if we are looking outside Westminster but the problem is that he should be an MP. He has so much to offer and could serve Labour in a higher level like in government. His contribution to the Purple Book debate is essential and he was brilliant in starting up the Co-operative Councils network, which should be universal in every local authority. I’d love to see him in Parliament, Dulwich and West Norwood perhaps?
Eddie Izzard – joke too far. Maybe MP or MEP.

My opinion is that Alan Johnson would have been the ideal candidate for Mayor of London, and Harriet Harman should have dragged him by the ear to force him to stand if need be. He would have been absolutely great on taking on Boris Johnson.

Rob

What about a candidate a little outside the political mainstream? Considering that the main area of responsibility for the mayor is transport, why not look at someone who really understands the subject and has some idea of how to move forward, so to speak.

I’d quite like transport commentator Christian Wolmar as a candidate. He’s a Labour man, and lives in London, but not bound by the internal politcs of London Labour. He knows his subject, and has some good ideas. He wouldn’t actually set out to offend half of London’s voters, either, which is a huge step forward from the Kivingstone era

Reem

I think Amy Childs has the brain power and insight needed to become Labour’s next mayoral candidate. Of course, she would have to move from Essex to London.

SocialismRoolz

Sonia off Eastenders would be great too — plus she’s not busy at the moment AND she already lives in London.

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